As I've been slowly harvesting newly ripe tomatoes from my own garden, I can't help but get excited for the multitude of tomatoes that we are so lucky to have available at the market this time of the season. Last week while commenting on Cedar Hedge Farm’s beautiful tomatoes, he informed me that he grows eighteen unique heirloom varieties. What a gift to have these available right in our neighbourhood, in comparison to a mainstream system of food that is built off of homogeneity in crops for production purposes. Everyone loves tomatoes and if you have kids, they will love to examine the wacky and awesome shapes and sizes of beautiful heirloom varieties, so if anything, come to the market this week in honour of tomatoes, as well all the other produce and products we have in store.

Farm Update

As you may have noticed some of our farms have been absent from the market. We are sad to say that Rolling Hills Organics will not be at the market for the remainder of the season. A combination of low market sales and low product due to the drought has resulted in Peter, not being able to continue with our market. Ignatius Farm has missed a couple weeks and will be away again this week - also due to the drought. Although there has been some recent rain activity, it doesn’t help with previous crops that were not able to flower due to the drought. Fingers crossed that we will see them back next week!

Special Guests

Rowan Oak Catering Pop-Up! We are thrilled to welcome Erika Mirabelli, owner of Rowan Oak Catering to the market this week. Erika is embracing local food by highlighting it in her freshly prepared food. Check out her fabulous menu!

August 24th Pollinator Day at the Market

Join us on August 24th for Pollinator Day at the market where will celebrate all of the “bee”utiful things about pollinators. Our special events and guests leading up to and for this day are:August 23rdBee tour! Join Brian Hamlin and community members for a tour of the Portland’s Bee Apiary - hosted by the Fairmount Park Farmers’ Market. This event is free and will commence at 7pm in front of The Portlands Energy Centre - 470 Unwin Avenue. Advance tickets can be purchase through Eventbrite.

August 24th Observation bee hive by Toronto beekeeper Kuldip Jassal! This is obviously a rare and unique opportunity. Come and check this out and asks questions about beekeeping to one of Toronto’s top experts on the topic.

Sustainable T.O!Bee home building They will leading a fun, kid friendly workshop for the duration of the market creating bee homes from planks and twine. We are encouraging market goers to bring sticks and pithy stems about eight inches in length to contribute to building a bee home. Bee homes provide nest sites for bees and their larvae!

Pollinator Walk 6:00 PM lead by Stephen Humphrey, Journalist, Photographer and bee expert will do lead a pollinator walk throughout the neighbourhood. Bring your camera and a ready eye to spot our neighbourhood pollinators. If you would like to feature your garden in the pollinator walk please contact arochonterry@gmail.com.

Movie in the Park: Bee Movie8:30pm co-hosted with Councillor McMahon. Please get in touch with arochonterry@gmail.com if you would like to volunteer to sell popcorn for the movie!

Community

Upper Beach Health and Wellness Running clinicJuly 27th to August 31st, 2016For the slightly more experienced or “recreation” runner, runs will be about 4-6km run with longer running intervals than in Running for Beginners I. We will finish at the park with a guided Yoga for Runners routine. NOTE: due the heat this workshop will run at a beginner level! Adjustments will be made as the weather changes.

Held Wednesday evenings from 5:30pm-6:30pm, giving you enough time to shop the market or pick up a post run snack!

Volunteer at the market!The farmers’ market is looking for energetic volunteers who would like to gain high school volunteer hours by helping out at the market. Peak times to volunteer are from 1pm-3pm and 630-730pm! Email arochonterry@gmail.com if you are interested in being part of the team!